Ingredients
Cherry filling
- 4 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1/2 c water
- 5 1/2 c of pitted cherries
- 2 tbsp. of lemon juice
- 3/4 c granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp. vanilla extract
Bars
- 1 c of butter, softened
- 2 c granulated sugar
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 c all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
Instructions
- Wash, measure, and pit cherries.
- Measure the cornstarch and water.
- Whisk the cornstarch and water together to create a slurry.
- Measure lemon juice, sugar, and vanilla extract (for cherry filling).
- Add the pitted cherries, lemon juice, sugar and vanilla to the slurry.
- Transfer mixture to large pot over medium heat.
- Bring mixture to a boil, stirring often. Then turn hear down to low.
- Cook, continuing to stir often, for 15 minutes (or until the mixture has thickened).
- Take mixture off of heat and let them cool to room temperature.
- Preheat toaster oven to 350 degrees F.
- Measure butter, sugar, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Soften butter.
- Beat these three ingredients together until smooth.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating them into the mixture until combined.
- Measure vanilla extract (for bar mixture).
- Add to mixture and give a quick stir.
- Measure flour and baking powder.
- Whisk together these two ingredients.
- Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and beat until you see no more flour, then scrape down sides of bowl and fold in any dry ingredients.
- Spray baking pan with cooking spray.
- *THIS STEP IS TRICKY, READ THE WHOLE STEP* – Add 3 cups of the batter evenly into the pan. This will NOT be all of the batter.
- Top the batter in the pan with prepared cherry filling.
- Dot the top of the gilling with the remaining batter.
- Bake of 30-40 minutes.
- Let bars cool before slicing and serving.